Decorating with a Roommate

Whether it’s your childhood best friend, your significant other, or someone you just met, decorating with a roommate is a fun and rewarding experience, but, like anything else, it comes with its own set of unique challenges. Here are some easy and painless guidelines to ensure that your co-decorating and living experience is an enjoyable one.

Compromise. Realize that your roommate may have very different ideas about how the common areas should be decorated. If you can compromise on a theme, the sailing will be smooth. If you wanted a love seat, but you let your roommate buy a couch, know that the coffee table and area rug are your choice. Once you both have a basic understanding of how the room will be decorated, you can each decide on the different pieces to buy so that the room will be a fusion of multiple styles.

Make a list. Keep a log of who bought what. If it is something you bought or had before you moved in together, you will know that it will be yours when the time comes to move out. If you choose to buy the items together, decide beforehand who will get them when you move out (this step is very important and can help prevent awkwardness when your lease is up).

Avoid clutter. Any time you move into a new place, leaving the nonessentials is always a good idea, but it is a must when you are living with another person. Nobody wants to live with a pack rat; so before you move, clear the clutter, and respectfully convince your roommate to do the same.

Have “You” space. One of the most important things you can do is set aside an area, whether it’s your bedroom, bathroom, or office, where you have executive decision-making powers when it comes to decorating. Having a space that is all your own is vital when you’re bunking with a roomie.

Check out Furnish 123 in San Antonio; it’s a one-stop shop for all your decorating needs. They offer simple, affordable pricing and will even deliver! You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.